PM Narendra Modi’s most ambitious "Digital India Programme" aims at transforming the country into a digitally-empowered knowledge economy has been fully implemented by the NVS, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, under the leadership of its dynamic and visionary Commissioner Bishwajit Kumar Singh. An officer of Indian Forest Service cadre, Bishwajit Singh has taken several Initiatives to provide NVS better administration, E-learning and Online processes of admission to transfer, to recruitments and all other important things.

In nutshell, the NVS (Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti) is transforming with faster pace to realise the dreams of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to select talented rural children and provide them with quality education supported by E-learning and digital processes comparable to the best in a residential school system, as envisioned by the government while laying the foundations of NVS as a part of National Policy on Education, 1986.

Originally, the idea of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), under the NVS was conceived by former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi with an aim of providing excellence coupled with social justice and subsequently NVS was registered as a Society, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. As per policy of the Government, one JNV was to be established in each district of country. It begun with two JNVs that were established during 1985–86, at Jhajjar (Haryana) and Amravati (Maharashtra) and today, it has total sanctioned strength of 598 districts including 10 JNVs in districts having large concentration of SC population and 2 special JNVs in Manipur. But now, the ruling Modi government has approved opening of one JNV in each of the 62 uncovered districts, which will bring total number of JNVs to 660, once operational.

The NVS, functions through the Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of HRD. The Samiti has established 8 Regional Offices under their jurisdiction which are headed by a Deputy Commissioner and also had Assistant Commissioners. Commissioner Bishwajit Kumar Singh is working day and nights to make the NVS a unique Centre of Excellence. Initially, 8 Centers of Excellence for academics are being established in different cities for better academic results and also to make it unparalleled in the annals of school education in India and elsewhere in real sense.

Onkareshwar Pandey, Editor in Chief of New Observer Post talked to Commissioner Bishwajit Kumar Singh about his efforts to make NVS, a centre of excellence and achievements so far. Here are the excerpts:

How far has NVS achieved the target of uplifting rural talent?

- The NVS is one of the successful schemes in Central Sector and has succeeded in polishing the rural talent in a big way. It can be gauzed from the fact that more than 8000 students including around 500 IITians are joining National mainstream every year.

What is the role of NVS in changing lives of first generation learners?

- JNVs provide actual talented students a platform to excel in life through an Integrated and comprehensive education wherein students are not only given academic input but also cultural, environmental inputs. This year around 3757 students out of 9567 students appearing in JEE (Mains) have cracked JEE (Mains).

Quite often, we get the news that teachers are not providing quality education in various Govt. schools. How do you see the contribution of NVS teachers in providing quality education to the rural talent?

- NVS Teachers are selected through a robust recruitment system and they have shown their dedication unknown in Govt. Sector. Their dedications are reflected in their result and respect they commend.

How NBS contributed to the society by giving most successful students with bright career?

- Many JNV Alumni are working in different walk of life and are highly successful. Their contributions to Civil Services, Scientific field and environment field are enormous. The alumni also encourage more & more students for social and welfare works.

How NVS fulfils role as laboratory of NCERT for bringing in good changes in education?

- Teachers are deputed for training through NCERT. Navodaya teachers participate in Post Graduate Diploma courses on career guidance organised by NCERT. Navodaya teachers extend their support in developing curriculum by NCERT. NCERT considers NVS as a true implementer of various activities and considers NVS as a right platform for carrying out research work.

Providing job oriented education has become very important today. How do you see the education provided by NVS from this angle?

- By considering the options of the students/parents, vocational education is being provided in 23 JNVs. To impart basic skills, SUPW teachers are posted in JNVs. A separate project is under consideration for skill development course in respect of vocational teachers during vacation. Job oriented activities to improve communication skills are also carried out in JNVs. JNV students are exposed to Institutes of higher learning to motivate.

How do NVS train to be self reliant?

- JNVs are residential schools. House system of the residential schools provides training to be self reliant in JNVs. Role of House Masters and Associate House Masters is highly crucial because proper guidance is provided to students on day-to-day basis by House Masters and Associate House Masters. Students do their own work on their own under the guidance of teachers.

How NVS impart values among children?

- Values are imbibed by students in JNVs from the elders, teachers, House Masters and the society. The concept of brotherhoodness and love and affection is instilled in the minds of the students through regular counseling. There are ample opportunities for the students to learn the values and use them in day-to-day activities.

Do you also provide training for any kind of Skill development to your students?

- For developing skills, two periods per week are allotted to every section under ‘Work Experience’. Vocational education is imparted in JNVs. Need based courses are started in JNVs as per the options of the students.

How is NVS successful in providing exposure to students in CCAs?

- Co-curricular activities supplement and compliment the curricular activities. Performance in CCA is an important indicator of the quality of the students and the academic inputs. Hence, high quality of performance is ensured by providing opportunities to all students. In fact, JNVs are pioneer in introduction of CCE concept.

How do you see Modi Govt.’s policy for education and youth?

- Education is for modification of behaviour. NVS deals with both boys and girls in the residential set up. House Masters and other teachers play an important role in shaping the students. Navodaya students act as a catalyst in the society to spread various messages including Government’s policies and initiatives. Even after leaving the Navodaya system, they serve for the society by carrying out various activities. In 30 years of long journey of NVS, role of alumni is highly appreciable. They train the students to face various competitions.

It is learnt that when the NVS was started, a post of Yoga teacher was created for every school. But later on, the post was diluted with the Yoga cum Physical Education Teacher, which resulted into large scale appointments of PTE in place of Yoga teachers. What is the reality?

- Physical Education Teachers are already trained in Yoga. Special Yoga training is regularly arranged for students, teachers and Officers. Permission is already granted to NVS to utilise the services of Yoga Experts. Yoga competitions are conducted at Vidyalaya, cluster, regional, national and SGFI level. Students are trained in the morning about Yoga on rotation basis. Government’s emphasis on better modern education for rural talented children has resulted in sanction of 62 new JNVs, out of which, around 20 will be operational this year.

Does NVS provide Yoga training also?

- Yes. PETs who are already working in JNVs train the students in Yoga practices. Morning PT time is used for practicing Yoga in JNVs. Yoga competitions are conducted at Vidyalaya, cluster, regional, national and SGFI level. Students are trained in the morning about Yoga on rotation basis.

Any other new or innovative steps you have taken in NVS?

1. Initiatives like MIS are already initiated for better administration.
2. Web based learning is already implemented in 475 JNVs.
3. For the first time, 4 students of Class XII have been selected for international admission.
4. Online process is already implemented in the recruitment of teachers / Principals and Officers.
5. Online transfers have been introduced from this year onward.
6. Initiatives have been taken for online application for admission in class VI, IX & XI.

Centre of Excellence for academics is being established in 8 cities for better academic results.